Donít legislate morality
In his column ďMedia coverage faces a religion deficit,Ē Cal Thomas criticized several lawmakers for votes that were inconsistent with the teachings of the religions that they follow. Once again, Thomas doesnít get it.
We donít elect people to office to have them impose their religionsí dogmas on us. They legislate for a religiously diverse nation, and must remember that people object to legislation that strays from addressing basic morality and tries to impose a cultural morality.
Imagine Congress considering a bill intended to put all Americans on a Kosher diet. A Jewish lawmaker, even though he keeps Kosher in his personal life, would show wisdom in voting against that bill out of consideration for Americans who do not practice the Jewish culture.
Itís the same with issues such as contraception, abortion, same-sex marriage, assisted suicide and so on. Legislators are wise enough to leave their personal religious beliefs in the personal sphere, and remember that they are legislating for Americans who practice many different cultures, beliefs and philosophies.
Communications Director of Michigan Atheists
UAW ensures job security
One has to wonder why writer Brian Pannebecker aims to criticize the UAW when he and his family benefit from the hard and difficult labor challenges that hourly workers at the Ford Axle Plant endured since the plant opened. Prior to the formation of the UAW, hourly workers were subject to cruel and abusive management practices where workers could be fired on a momentís notice simply if the floor foreman didnít like a worker because of political differences, religious beliefs, ethnicity or race.
The UAW stood guard at the Ford Sterling Axle plant to protect hourly workers against these abusive management practices since the plant opened. Long before Pannebecker punched in to collect a UAW negotiated paycheck at Ford Sterling Axle plant, many workers, including family members who were equally committed and dedicated to their jobs as he professes to be, suffered the wrath of crooked and deceitful foreman who regularly harassed workers.
Pannebecker appears to want it both ways by drinking from the good well of union workers rights and then bashing UAW union leaders and union loyalist for supporting political figures such as U.S. Sens. Carl Levin and Debbie Stabenow, who serve to protect the rights of the American labor union movement. Pannebecker is misaligned with Gov. Rick Snyder, who publically stated he wants Michigan to have no part of the right-to-work movement. The former is on the wrong side of history and the latter knows what fights to pick, and for good reason.